Autumn.
Two sounds are unmistakable.
The hurrying rustle of crisp leaves blown along the street by a gust of wind. And the honking of a flock of migrating geese overhead. Both of these are harbingers of chill days ahead.
The Fall Equinox, also known as Mabon, or Harvest Home, fall on or around September 21, and draws an end to the harvest season. It’s the time to honor the changing seasons, and give thanks for what we have, whether it is abundant crops or other blessings.
At the Fall Equinox, the sun enters the astronomical sign of Libra. Libra’s sign is the scales, depicting a state of perfect balance.
Two sounds are unmistakable.
The hurrying rustle of crisp leaves blown along the street by a gust of wind. And the honking of a flock of migrating geese overhead. Both of these are harbingers of chill days ahead.
The Fall Equinox, also known as Mabon, or Harvest Home, fall on or around September 21, and draws an end to the harvest season. It’s the time to honor the changing seasons, and give thanks for what we have, whether it is abundant crops or other blessings.
At the Fall Equinox, the sun enters the astronomical sign of Libra. Libra’s sign is the scales, depicting a state of perfect balance.
The earth is in perfect balance as well. Day and night, light and dark are in a state of equilibrium at the start of autumn.
That can affect people in different ways. For some, it’s a season to honor the darker aspects of the goddess, calling upon that which is devoid of light. For others, it’s a time of high energy. There may be a feeling of restlessness in the air, a sense that something is just a bit “off”.
If you’re feeling a bit spiritually lopsided, activities that keep you close to the land, or those that help others, can bring you balance and harmony.
Here are some ways you and your family can gear your fall festivities toward traditional, or more earth-based celebrations:
That can affect people in different ways. For some, it’s a season to honor the darker aspects of the goddess, calling upon that which is devoid of light. For others, it’s a time of high energy. There may be a feeling of restlessness in the air, a sense that something is just a bit “off”.
If you’re feeling a bit spiritually lopsided, activities that keep you close to the land, or those that help others, can bring you balance and harmony.
Here are some ways you and your family can gear your fall festivities toward traditional, or more earth-based celebrations:
Image by Maria Sapotnitska
Place some fruits, such as squash and apples in a wooden bowl on your altar. You’ll want to add a pomegranate, in honor of Persephone.
The full Moon closest to the Autumn Equinox (September 24 this year) is the traditional time of the ancient Greek Eleusian Mysteries, in with Persephone was abducted by Hades, lord of the Underworld, to reign as his queen for the next six months, until her return to the surface at the Spring Equinox.
Place some fruits, such as squash and apples in a wooden bowl on your altar. You’ll want to add a pomegranate, in honor of Persephone.
The full Moon closest to the Autumn Equinox (September 24 this year) is the traditional time of the ancient Greek Eleusian Mysteries, in with Persephone was abducted by Hades, lord of the Underworld, to reign as his queen for the next six months, until her return to the surface at the Spring Equinox.
A cornucopia (horn of plenty) is the perfect item to serve as a centerpiece on your family dining table for these months.
Decorate your home or a rented space like an old barn and host a barn dance!
A European custom that grew out of the pagan celebrations of the completion of the harvest, this tradition continued in the Colonies.
If you like wine, you can host a wine-tasting party in honor of the year’s grape harvest Serve wines the traditional way, with bland crackers, yeast breads, and cheese. You can even have a company host in your home, in exchange for a minimum guest purchase. (With my friends, I have never had a problem making the modest minimum.)
Quilting Bees were also fall events. With the cold nights of winter on the way, people crafted new blankets and quilts to keep their family warm. Of course, this activity is much more fun as a group! Many of the quilt patterns hold pagan symbolism, and may have, in fact, grown out of long-forgotten pagan signs of protection.
Many pagans and Wiccans count Mabon as their Thanksgiving, the perfect time to give to those less fortunate than ourselves. Consider holding a canned food drive. Invite your friends over for a feast, but ask each of them to bring a canned food, dry goods, or baby supplies. Donate the collected bounty to a local food bank or homeless shelter.
Give your energy and time. For one hour this month, put your full energies into a task that doesn’t benefit you personally. Perhaps you can help prepare food for strangers at a food bank. Perhaps you can complete someone else’s dreaded tasks. Maybe you read to children in foster care, or donate your time to AIDS awareness. As you prepare to engage in the activity, and while carrying it out, note any resistance or internal commentary. Note again how you feel at the end of the activity. Do you notice any change?
Natural giving. Choose an hour when you will listen deeply to someone else without commenting about your own life or interests. Simply listen with full attention to the details of the speaker’s words. Repeat back in your own words the information you have heard to demonstrate to the speaker that you have heard what he or she had to say.
Many pagans and Wiccans count Mabon as their Thanksgiving, the perfect time to give to those less fortunate than ourselves. Consider holding a canned food drive. Invite your friends over for a feast, but ask each of them to bring a canned food, dry goods, or baby supplies. Donate the collected bounty to a local food bank or homeless shelter.
Give your energy and time. For one hour this month, put your full energies into a task that doesn’t benefit you personally. Perhaps you can help prepare food for strangers at a food bank. Perhaps you can complete someone else’s dreaded tasks. Maybe you read to children in foster care, or donate your time to AIDS awareness. As you prepare to engage in the activity, and while carrying it out, note any resistance or internal commentary. Note again how you feel at the end of the activity. Do you notice any change?
Natural giving. Choose an hour when you will listen deeply to someone else without commenting about your own life or interests. Simply listen with full attention to the details of the speaker’s words. Repeat back in your own words the information you have heard to demonstrate to the speaker that you have heard what he or she had to say.
Pick some apples. Apples are the perfect symbol of the Mabon season. Long connected to wisdom and magic, there are many wonderful things you can do with an apple. As you pick the apples, give thanks to Pomona, goddess of fruit trees.
Honor the darkness. Without darkness, there is no light. Without night, there can be no day. Despite a basic human inclination to overlook the dark and sleep through it, there are many positive aspects to embracing the dark side of life, if it’s just for a short time. After all, it was Demeter’s love for her daughter Persephone that led her to wander the world, mourning for six months at a time, and bringing us the death of the soil each fall.
Honor someone older than you. In some paths, Mabon is the time of year that celebrates the Crone aspect of the goddess. We often tend to ignore the elderly people in our population. This month, spend time with an older acquaintance, and acknowledge the ways they’ve succeeded in aging gracefully.
Honor someone older than you. In some paths, Mabon is the time of year that celebrates the Crone aspect of the goddess. We often tend to ignore the elderly people in our population. This month, spend time with an older acquaintance, and acknowledge the ways they’ve succeeded in aging gracefully.
It's time for Second Harvest
Of colors red and gold.
A time to gather and reap
The fruit from the seeds we sowed.
We honor the spirit of all living things.
We give them our blessings for gifts we've received.
Bless the trees felled for shelter,
Bless the food which once breathed.
Remind us, Oh Spirit, lest we forget,
To take no life lightly,
We all have a debt.
In this eternal circling of life into death.
Each beginning has an ending.
Then it circles full round.
The Oak King dies,
Thus the Holly King is crowned.
Light and dark balanced on an ear of wheat.
As the last grain signals the harvest complete.
Spirit, bring your perfect love to our rite,
That we may always keep balance firmly in sight.
Happy Mabon.
Of colors red and gold.
A time to gather and reap
The fruit from the seeds we sowed.
We honor the spirit of all living things.
We give them our blessings for gifts we've received.
Bless the trees felled for shelter,
Bless the food which once breathed.
Remind us, Oh Spirit, lest we forget,
To take no life lightly,
We all have a debt.
In this eternal circling of life into death.
Each beginning has an ending.
Then it circles full round.
The Oak King dies,
Thus the Holly King is crowned.
Light and dark balanced on an ear of wheat.
As the last grain signals the harvest complete.
Spirit, bring your perfect love to our rite,
That we may always keep balance firmly in sight.
Happy Mabon.
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